Eli Lilly developed the diabetes drug Mounjaro and became one of the world's highest-value drugmakers. Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for treating type 2 diabetes in 2022. The medicine acts on two hormone receptors involved in blood-sugar regulation and appetite.
Eli Lilly and Company was founded in Indianapolis in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union veteran. Its research portfolio has included insulin, antibiotics, psychiatric medicines, cancer treatments, and therapies for metabolic disease.
The company's market value rose sharply as investors assessed demand for tirzepatide and related products. Mounjaro should not be confused with Zepbound, the brand name used for tirzepatide when prescribed in the United States for chronic weight management. Drug approvals and brand names can differ by country.